Yuletide Lessons
Chapter 11
December 21st
Lucy absently hung lights around the guild as her mind continued to be a thousand miles away. Fairy Tail was getting ready for their annual Christmas Party and everyone was pitching in to help. Most of the guys were outside working on the exterior, while the girls decorated the inside. Fro and Rogue even pitched in, helping with the humongous tree as Mira, walked around spouting orders. She was in her perfectionist mode full throttle and no one wanted to get in her way, which is why most of the guys volunteered to do the outside. But Lucy wasn't paying much attention to her surroundings, which was probably how Levy managed to sneak up on her and almost made her fall off the ladder.
"Oh my gosh Levy! You scared the crap outta me!" She shouted laughing as she clutched her chest.
"Sorry 'bout that." She replied, steadying the ladder as Lucy climbed down. "I couldn't help but notice your far away look and wondered how you were doing."
Lucy leaned back against the wall and sighed, her eyes zeroed in on Rogue who was helping wind the many strings of light on the huge tree.
"I don't know Lev. I know Mira told me to just let things play out and I've tried so far, but I can't help but keep going over everything."
The Script Mage nodded, her gaze following where Lucy was looking.
"And something also struck my mind last night when I found another present hanging on my door."
"Another one?" Levy whispered, leaning closer as Lucy fished the chain the watch was on around her neck out from her shirt.
"Wow, that's gorgeous," She murmured.
"Open the back." Lucy turned it over for her.
Levy pried open the cover and gasped as she read the words Lucy had the night before and gently laid it back on the blonde's shirt. "I can see why this would confuse you. So, what was it that struck your mind?"
"Well," She shifted looking uneasy. "I can't help but wonder if I am truly shallow."
Levy gasped and turned a stern stare at the blond. "Lucy! Why on earth would you say such a thing? You're the most caring and thoughtful person I know."
"But what if I am only confused about all of this because all these gifts are so expensive and gorgeous?"
Levy frowned and shook her head. "I don't believe that for a second and neither should you." She stuck her hands on her hips as she faced the blond. "I know you've grown up with all the luxuries at your fingertips, but never once have I ever seen you act like a snobby twit, like most rich people are."
Lucy sighed, bowing her head. "But that's the thing. Maybe deep down I'm longing for that kind of life again and since this person seems to be able to buy me what I was once used to..." She trailed off.
"Lucy, look a me." Lucy's eyes snapped up to Levy's and she froze seeing such a fire in her eyes shining back at her and the voice was so stern it just didn't seem that it should come out of such a bubbly girl like her.
"There is a reason you ran away from home Lucy, multiple reasons in fact. So why on earth would you voluntarily wish to go back to the way everything was when you were miserable?"
Lucy faltered, not really knowing what to say to all that.
"For as long as I've know you, money hasn't been that big of a deal, except for your rent of course." She giggled and Lucy smiled. "But other then that, your world doesn't revolve around money." She paused and turned to the side, her eyes landing on a certain dragon slayer. "I think what's really gotten to you is the uncertainty of everything and the fact that you don't know how he feels about you. So, the fact that you keep getting these mysterious and wonderful gifts from someone who obviously admires you and to me sounds like they wish for something more then friendship with you, has you going in circles."
"I mean on the one hand you have the one your heart is set on. Admirable, loyal, shy at times, smart, fun when you get him to open up, but yet you have no clue how he sees you."
Lucy nodded, her words hitting the problem straight on and she was amazed at just how insightful the Script Mage was, but remembered that Levy had always been very intelligent so it couldn't have been too much of a surprise.
"And on the other hand you have someone lavishing you with lovely gifts, complete with endearments that I for one think belong in a movie, and pretty much declaring his love for you in so many words. So in all likelihood you possibly have a chance for something with this mystery person and that seems like the sure thing. But the one your heart wants hasn't yet made a move, so you're being pulled back and forth over this and it's driving you up the wall."
"You've pretty much hit the nail on the head Lev."
"Personally I've never been in your situation so I can't say too much about how you can fix this." She started, her eyes capturing Lucy's. "But perhaps if you knew how he," She jerked her head in the direction of the tree. "Felt, then maybe you could make a decision when the time was right because I have a feeling everything is going to come to a head at the Fairy Tail Christmas party."
Lucy snapped out of her melancholy thoughts. "You don't think my mystery guy will show up at the party and cause a scene do you?"
Levy shrugged. "It's a strong possibility, seeing as how everyday you've gotten a gift and what better time to declare your love then at Christmas."
Lucy bit her lip as Rogue turned and gave her a small wave. She smiled weakly back as he returned to the tree.
"Rogue's supposed to be there though!" She hissed.
"I know, that's why you should have a good long think about how you want to approach this. I think we should figure out how 'he' feels about you before you're put in the spot light." She used quotations for emphasis.
"How can we do that?"
Levy tilted her head in thought. "Well, how about I have a chat with him and sort of steer the conversation towards you, just to see how he reacts to certain things."
"Oh Levy I can't ask you to do that."
Levy flipped her hand. "Oh it's no bother, especially if I can prevent one of my best friends from pulling her hair out."
Lucy looked from the Script Mage over to Rogue and back, wringing her fingers anxiously, before she sighed and hung her head. "Ok ok, I leave everything in your capable hands then Levy."
"I will do my best Lucy." She smiled. "Oh and before I forget something arrived for you a little while ago and I wanted to talk to you before I gave this to you so you wouldn't get any more distressed." She brought a package out from behind her back and handed it over.
"How do they always know where I'll be?" Lucy muttered as she opened the package.
Levy shrugged. "Maybe your mystery guy is closer than we think."
Lucy paused and scanned the room for anyone staring at them, but after finding none went back to her package.
"I wonder..." She dumped the contents out into her hand and both girls gasped at what stared back at them. It was a key, a very old key by the looks of it and made out of some kind of rose colored metal.
"Lucy, I think that's made of rose gold." She whispered.
Lucy's mouth went dry as she turned the key in her hand, studying the angles. She knew it wasn't a celestial key by any means because she couldn't feel any magical energy from it, but she wondered at the heart shaped hole on the top. She handed it over to Levy and dived back into the package finding another note. She pulled it out and read it out loud enough for Levy to hear but no one else.
"You hold the key to my heart."
"Wow, these notes just get more and more romantic don't they?" Levy replied wistfully.
Lucy nodded and sighed as she ran her finger along the edge of the key.
Levy wrapped her arm around the blonde's waist and pulled her in for a small hug.
"Don't worry Lu. We'll figure this out."
"I hope so Lev, cause I really don't think my heart can take this any longer."
"With my help, we'll find out how your 'guy' feels about you no sweat!" She gushed with a grin and Lucy couldn't help mirror her expression.
"Trust me Lu, I've got your back girl. And if I need to I'll enlist Cana to help me pin him down."
Lucy laughed softly, imagining the interrogating session between those three.
"That I would love to see."
(¯`¥´¯`·.¸.:¨NIchiki ¨:.¸.·´¯`¥´¯)
